Higgins wins approval for amendment to protect community development block grant funds to Niagara Falls

by jmaloni

Submitted

Thu, Jun 12th 2014 04:35 pm

Congressman's
effort saves more than $2.2 million for City of Niagara Falls

Earlier
this week, Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, won approval in the House of
Representatives for an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development bill that will protect more than $2.2 million in federal funding to
the City of Niagara Falls. The Higgins amendment was included in the final bill
approved.

The
community development block grant program - under the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development - authorizes resources to support local community
development needs, such as construction of affordable housing, infrastructure
investment and job creation.

Under
the provisions of the program, only municipalities with populations of 50,000
or greater are eligible to receive a direct, annual allocation through the community
block grant program. The most recent population estimates through the U.S.
Census Bureau put the City of Niagara Falls just under that standard, at 49,722
(2012).

Higgins'
amendment says none of the funds under the THUD bill may be used to terminate
the status of CDBG entitlement communities, which includes Niagara Falls. The congressman
noted the importance of the amendment on the House Floor:

"Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that yesterday the
House adopted my amendment to prevent communities that have experienced recent
population loss from being excluded from the community development block grant program.

"Since the creation of the community development
block grant program in 1974, HUD has designated 'entitlement communities,'
which included cities with a population of at least 50,000. For 40 years, HUD
has allowed cities that have had their population's fall below 50,000 to
continue to participate in the program.

"Unfortunately, HUD signaled a desire to change
course and to remove these cities from the program. This would have devastated
127 cities in 31 states, including the City of Niagara Falls in my congressional
district. The community development block grant has become a foundation for
community and economic development across the nation and in Western New
York.

"I am pleased that communities who rely on this
funding will continue to have access to this critical resource."

Mayor
Paul Dyster said, "The City of Niagara Falls sincerely thanks Congressman
Brian Higgins for his proactive leadership and sponsorship of this amendment.
Our city relies on CDBG funds to deliver essential community projects and
services every year. Yet again, Congressman Higgins helping to ensure that
transformative change continues in Niagara Falls."

"This
amendment will provide Niagara Falls with the resources necessary to make our community
a place where more people choose to live and work," added City Council Chairman
Charles Walker. "I applaud Congressman Higgins for his work on this
issue."

Niagara
Falls is one of several municipalities in Higgins' district that receives
federal funding through the CDBG program.